Portable and collapsible pole vaulting and high jumping pit



R. W. HENDERSHOTT PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE POLE VAULTING AND' HIGH JUMPING PIT March 11, 1952 Filed Sept) 29, 1949 Fig.

Robert W. Hendershafl 2 SHEETSSHEET l IN V EN TOR. fimaaz fiw WW EM Patented Mar. 11, 1952 PORTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE POLE VAULT- ING AND HIGH J UMPING PIT Robert W. Hendershott, Klamath Falls, Oreg. Application September 29, 1949, Serial No. 119,491

4 Claims.

This invention relates to athletic equipment, and more particularly to a portable and collapsible pit for use in high jumping and pole vaulting athletic events.

An object of this invention is to provide a jumping pit which is readily removed from one portion of an athletic field to another, or from one location to another area, which may be used for indoor athletic events, and which will afford all necessary protection to the participant in the athletic event.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel portable and collapsible jumping pit which may be readily moved while in a set up condition from one portion of an athletic field to another, since the wheels therefor may be simply and easily attached thereon.

Still another object resides in the provision of a portable and collapsible pole vaulting and high jumping pit which is strong, durable, and efficient in its nature, relatively simple to manufacture, capable of affording suitable protection to participants in athletic events, and pleasing in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary ob jects which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this portable and collapsible pole vaulting and high jumping pit, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the jumping pit showing it in a set-up position ready for use in a pole vaulting event;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention showing it in such position as adapted for folding into its portable position, the protective flaps and strips being unfastened to show other structures;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the jumping pit as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the invention showing it in a folded position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device showing the side flaps and strips as attached;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line 66 in Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing the corner construction of the portable and collapsible pole vaulting and high jumping pit in an enlarged scale; and

Figure 8 is a detail view showing the .manner in which the springs are attached to the mat.

With continued reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, Ill, I2, [4 and I6 designate the lower side frame members included in the frame structure of the portable and collapsing pole vaulting and high jumping pit.

As is best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the frame members l0, l2, l4 and I6 are welded to each other and have standards welded thereto extending upwardly therefrom.

These standards are secured to each of the corners, and intermediate studs are positioned along each of the lower side frame members. The corner standards are designated by reference numerals I8, 20, 22 and 24. The intermediate studs are collectively designated by the reference numeral 26. Three upper side frame members 28, 30, and 32 are welded to the upper ends of the studs or standards I8, 20, 22, 24, and 26 collectively. Suitable braces, such as indicated at 34, may be used to support the standards relative to the lower side frame members.

To each of the studs as found suitable are welded spacing members 36. A pair of these spacing members 36 may be used at each corner 20 and 22, as is shown in Figures 2 and 7, each corner [8 and 24 and each intermediate standard be suitably bolted to the spacing members 36, as at 50.

The guard rail 46 is preferably made in two parts with a joint 52 therebetween.

"The frame members I0 and M are preferably made in two sections. Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that a coupling comprising a half round bar 54 is welded to one section of the frame member. To each section of the frame member is secured a portion of a hinge which is rotatable about a pin 56. Thus, as is shown in Figure 4, the jumping pit may be folded.

Diagonal brace bars 58 are secured to the lower side frame members at the corners thereof. Between the lower side frame members and the bars are journaled suitable wheels such as 60. These wheels are attached to shafts which are journaled in blocks 62 and 64 which are held together by bolts 66. Hence, by simply removing the bolts 66, the bottom block 64 will fall along with the shafts and wheels to be removed from under the pit. Likewise the pit need simply be raised, the

3 shaft put in place, and the block 64 bolted to 62 to put the device on wheels. It is to be noted that the wheels 60 are offset from each other so that when the jumping pit is folded as shown in Figure 4, the wheels will be permitted to seat easily.

By means of hooks 68, a first bar 70 to be used as means for holding the mat 12 in place is secured to the standard 26. By means of spring 14, a second bar 16 is attached to the first bar 10. The mat 12 is secured to the second bar '16 by turnbuckles 18. Obviously, rings could beused instead of the turnbuckles 18, but it is believed that the turnbuckles l8 aid in determining the amount of tension in the supports for the mat I2.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 8, thecorners of the mat 12 are supported by the rings 80 attached to the corners and springs 82 attached to suitable hooks 84 bolted to the corner standards.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 5, it will ,be seen that a first canvas strip 86 is secured to the intermediate standards, as by sewing or threading, using heavy line This strip-extends upwardly and covers the guard and guard rail A second canvas strip 88 is then positioned on top of the first canvas, strip and is sewed thereto, as at ,90. Throughsuitable gromets 92 in the two canvas strips, lines 94 are used to attach it to the guard rails and theupperside frame members. 1

A filling of sawdust 96 or other suitable compressive material may be placed between the two canvas strips. The canvas strips extend about the periphery of the three guards 44, 46, and 48.

A flap 98 made ,of canvas or other flexible material is then secured, as by sewing, to the bottom edge of the first canvas strip 86 and has its opposite end sewed, as. at I09, to the mat 12. It is to be noted that the flap 98 extends from the mat '12 over the front of the jumping pit and covers lower side frame member [0. This is best shown in Figure 1. 1A spread of sawdust I02 is then placed upon the mat 12 and flaps 98. The jumping pit is then ready for use. It is to be understood that the mat 12, ,the strips 86 and 88, and

the flaps 98 may be made of any suitable flexible material, such as canvas, or nylon cloth. Additionally, while it is probable that the jumping pit will be used during athletic events without the wheels attached, they may be readily left on so that the motion imparted to the whole jumping pit may be used to take up some of the shock of the falling body.. Since, from the foregoing, the construction and advantagesof this jumping pit. are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to .which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A portable jumping pit comprising a substantially square frame having lower side frame members extendingtherearound, standards secured to said lower side frame members and extending upwardly from the corners and intermediately of three of said lower side frame mem bers, upper side frame members secured to said intermediate and said corner standards above said three side frame members, a resilient mat secured to said lower side frame members, spacing,

members secured to said standards, guard rails secured to said spacing members, and guards positioned against said spacing members and abutting said guard rails and said upper frame members.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said mat is substantially square in shape, springs secured to said corner standards, and means secured to the corners of said mat secured to said springs.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a first flexible strip extending around the periphery of said three upper frame members, a second flexible strip positioned above said first flexible strip, means securing said flexible .strips to said guard rails and said three upper frame members, means securing said flexible strips to said standards, a compressible filler between said first and said second flexible strips, a flexible flap secured to said flexible strips, said flexible flap being additionally secured to said mat.

. 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein a pair of oppositely disposed frame members are formed insections, said sections being selectively attachable, and means selectively holding said pair of frame members in rigid relationship.

ROBERT W. HENDERSHOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,390 Kuykendall Sept. 12, 1905 933,971 Fuller Sept. 14, 1909 1,220,015 Sisbower Mar. 20, 1917 2,370,990 Nissen Mar. 6, 1945 

